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On March 30th 2016, it was notified to lawyers and companions the judgment of the National Court condemning the anarchists Monica Caballero and Francisco Solar to 5 years in prison on charges of “injury”, plus 7 years for “damage with terrorist purpose”, with a total of 12 years in prison for each. They were acquitted of charges of “belonging to a terrorist organization and conspiracy” against the Monastery of Montserrat. Demonstrations will begin today against this ridiculous sentence.

‘We are presented with the challenge of extending the struggle and solidarity, to defend our ties and our ideas, denying that their world is reduced to the four walls that keep them incarcerated.Our jailed comrades will always be present in our struggles and our daily lives.There is no “inside”, nor is there an “outside” only enemies of the state and authority.Death to the state and long live anarchy! (translated from Indymedia Barcelona)

After spending more than 2 years in jail, and with the prosecution demanding 44 years each, it became clear on the 1st day of their trial that the State has virtually no evidence against Monica and Francisco!

It’s a political case, linked by the police to ongoing raids and repression of the socially progressive and popular anarchist and occupation movement, and aiming to brand them and the anarcho syndicalist trade unions as ”terrorists”.

Worldwide Solidarity

Dozens of solidarity demos, and fundraisers are continuing, including in Greece, Germany, Chile and Chiapas.

‘The prosecution of Monica and Francisco has been directly linked by the police to the ongoing represssion and mass arrests of the Piñata and Pandora raids on libertarian social centers, alleging that all belonged to an unknown conspiracy GAC (Coordinated Anarchist Groups). It comes in the context of media scapegoating and inventions (and the infamous new Gagging Laws) used to rally support for the far right then ruling PP party. (A function used in the past against the Basque Independence movements until their unilateral ceasefire).

Their conviction will open the way for a generalised repression of the social, occupation and trade union based anarchist movement, and community resistance campaigns in Spain, by branding all as ‘anarcho insurrectionalists’.’

Apart from the severe sentence that could fall on these two companions, the trial represents a critical point in the Pandora / Pinata state crackdown on dissent and repression of the struggles in general’.

The defense had requested an acquittal on all charges and demanded bail to let Francisco and Monica wait for the trial verdict in freedom.

At the end of the trial, Judge Angela Murillo offered the floor to the two defendants. First Monica defended her innocence and her anarchist ideology finishing with a resounding “Death to the State and Long Live Anarchy.”

The tension boiled over when Francisco appeared about to do the same as his companion had done previously. On this occasion, the judge interrupted before he could say more shouting “do not give us lessons!” She then expelled the audience, who were beginning to applaud the defendants, from the Court amid cries of support for Fran and Monica!

Meanwhile, in the press room the TV screens from which the broadcast session was being relayed were abruptly switched off, all to prevent us hearing Fran say “Death to the State and Long Live Anarchy.”
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